Sylheti nationalism (Sylheti:ꠍꠤꠟꠐꠤ ꠎꠣꠔꠤꠅꠔꠣꠛꠣꠖ,pronounced[sílɔʈizat̪i̯ɔt̪abad̪]) is a cultural and social movement to assert an exclusiveSylheti identity rooted in the language, history and culture ofSylhet. Sylheti nationalism has developed in different forms over time underBritish colonial rule and inEast Pakistan, in independentBangladesh, among Sylhetis inIndia and among diaspora communities in the West. The primary objective of the Sylheti nationalists is to be recognized and preserve the Sylheti culture and language. They claim that Sylheti is not a dialect ofBengali but its own language.[1] The Sylheti language is undergoing a revival inGreater Sylhet and the diaspora, bringing with it great symbolic significance. For example, it was featured in a 2017 exhibition and workshop held inTower Hamlets (London,UK) titled "Bangla is not my mother tongue" by the visual artist and spatial designer Osmani Saif.[2]
The Silchar-Sylhet Festival, also known as The Indo-Bangladesh Festival is one meant to bring the Sylheti communities divided by thePartition of 1947 back together. The festival aims at bringing celebrations of Sylheti culture by staging local art, cuisine and handicrafts as well as discussion of cross-border ties betweenIndia andBangladesh. Emphasizing the importance of linking various cultures and establishing new relationships between the cities ofSilchar andSylhet, the festival is both a cultural and diplomatic event. Dignitaries from both countries are likely to participate in the festival, again emphasizing the importance of the event in strengthening bilateral ties.[3][4]
InBangladesh, Sylheti is primarily spoken in theSylhet Division and the surrounding districts.[5][6][7]
It is not officially recognized as a distinct language, it is often considered adialect of Bengali. However, there have been attempts at conserving and spreading the Sylheti language and theSylheti Nagri script in Bangladesh, with some movements demanding recognition of the language and preservation of its cultural heritage. Sylheti has unique linguistic features in vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar that set it apart from standard Bengali.[8][9]
The Sylheti people in India live inBarak Valley,Hojai,Tripura,Meghalaya andManipur. Sylheti identity has been shaped through history due to migration, change of culture and arguments related to language, prominently so after Partition in post-Partition India.Sylhet was formerly part ofBengal and formed a part of East Pakistan (Bangladesh today) in 1947, following mass Sylheti-speakingHindu population movement into India, predominantlyAssam and Tripura. Such migration caused an independent Sylheti identity, which was normally separable from general Bengali identity even when linked.[10][11]
In Assam's Barak Valley, there has also been an ongoing controversy over whetherSylheti should be accepted as a distinct language and not aBengali dialect. Organisations such as the Society for Protection of Sylheti argue that Sylheti has distinguishable linguistic features and must be identified separately from Bengali. This is a valid argument in the education and administrative policymaking sectors where Sylheti speakers are grouped under Bengali.[12]
Besides linguistic identity, globalization and cultural assimilation have also influenced Sylheti traditions inNorth-eastern India. Modern influences, media exposure and migration have led to a slow erosion of traditional Sylheti traditions and use of the Sylheti language among the younger generations. The majority of scholars and community leaders emphasize the need for cultural preservation to maintain the distinctive heritage of Sylheti people in India.[13]
There are Sylheti diaspora communities in the West,[14] especially in theUnited Kingdom. They are known asBritish Bangladeshis and are sometimes referred to as "Londonis".[15] In the United Kingdom, estimates of Sylheti speakers vary. Some sources suggest there are around 400,000 Sylheti speakers, with the largest concentration residing inBrick Lane. However, other estimates, such as those from theJoshua Project, report approximately 122,000 Sylheti speakers in the United Kingdom.[16][17][18]
TheSOAS Sylheti Project (SSP) was initiated at theSchool of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS),University of London, with the aim of documenting and raising awareness about theSylheti language. The project, from the Linguistics Department, collaborates with the Surma Community Centre inCamden to engage with the local Sylheti-speaking community. Activities include creating educational materials like theSylheti Nagri writing practice book and compiling a Sylheti dictionary.[19][20][21][22] In addition to Bengali, some schools in the United Kingdom have included Sylheti among the list of students' native languages. Many British students from Sylheti-speaking families are unable to speak standard Bengali, having instead acquired Sylheti as their primary language.[23]
InEast Pakistan, Sylheti nationalism sometimes found itself caught between the broaderBengali nationalist project and the desire to preserve a unique cultural-linguistic heritage. During this time, early thinkers and local groups spoke out against the disappearance of the Sylheti language and culture under the umbrella of "Bengali nationalism".[24]